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Joseph and Carmen Unanue Donate $3 Million to Seton Hall University for Creation of Latino Institute
Joseph A. Unanue, former president and CEO of Goya Foods - the nation's largest Hispanic food company - and his wife, Carmen, recently committed $3 million to Seton Hall University through Ever Forward: The Seton Hall Sesquicentennial Campaign to establish the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences. This commitment is one of the campaign's largest gifts to date. The goal of the Ever Forward campaign is to raise $150 million by 2007 to firmly establish Seton Hall as one of the premier Catholic universities in the country.
The Unanue Latino Institute will serve as the umbrella organization for all co-curricular activities related to Latino history, socio-economic-political issues, culture, literature, art and music. A major in Latino Studies will be created - slated for launch in the 2005-06 academic year - that will draw from all of these disciplines. Coursework could also include service opportunities or outreach in the Newark Latino community in the form of an internship.
Each year, the Unanue Latino Institute will invite authors, poets or scholars in residence with expertise in an area of Latino studies to teach, conduct research and organize special events for a semester. In addition, a lecture on a Latino-related issue will be held annually to provide academic and cultural enrichment for students and the community. The Unanue Latino Institute also will provide access to Latino art and music, such as the current, traveling exhibit from El Museo del Barrio - New York City's only Latino museum dedicated to Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latin American art - and both Latin jazz and classical music concerts.
Since the University is committed to attracting the best Latino students who might not otherwise have access to a Seton Hall education, permanently-endowed scholarships, based on need and merit, will be available through the Latino Studies program. The program also will offer travel grants for faculty and students to provide opportunities to study, conduct research and volunteer in social action organizations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal as part of the University's mission to advance servant leadership in a global society. Seton Hall will establish new links and student exchange programs as well with universities in Latin America.
Joseph and Carmen Unanue are long-time supporters of Latino activities and organizations, and Seton Hall as well. Joseph, a former member of the University's Board of Regents from 1982 to 1989, has been named "Man of the Year" twice by the National Conference of Christians and Jews; has received the Leadership Award from the National Minority Suppliers Association, the Key to the City of Boston, and the 1991 National Hispanic Achievement Award presented by Hispanic Magazine; has been honored by Bnai Brith in 1989; and has been knighted by the "Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta." Also, he has served as the Grand Marshall of New York's Puerto Rican Day Parade and has been named Grand Marshall of the Hispanic Heritage Parade in New York. Joseph received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Seton Hall University in May 2004.
Carmen received an honorary doctorate of Humanitarian Service from Seton Hall in May 1994. She is well known throughout the Archdiocese of Newark and the Latino community for her philanthropic work and volunteer service. Also, she is vice chair of the Board of Trustees, El Museo del Barrio, the largest museum of Latin American art and culture in the Northeast.
The Unanues, frequently through Goya, have made many charitable contributions over the years, among them 30,000 lbs. of food to Colombia earthquake victims in 1998, as well as to the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater; Repertorio Español; Ballet Hispanico; Puerto Rican Day Parade; New Jersey State Council on the Arts; El Museo del Barrio, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; and the Arts Educational Programs at the Guggenheim Museum.